Skip to main content

Welcome to the Low Vision Center at Vision Professionals in Columbus, Ohio

Our Eye Doctors at Low Vision Center at Vision Professionals will meet with you to evaluate your vision and lifestyle needs thoroughly. After a comprehensive eye exam, we’ll work together with you in our Columbus, Ohio Eye Care clinic, to figure out the best strategies and low vision equipment for your personal requirements. We’ll introduce you to a whole range of practical low vision devices that will help restore your ability to see and do the things you love.

What is Low Vision?

Low vision is where you have done traditional corrective vision methods such as glasses, contacts, medication or Lasik and are still unable to perform the daily tasks that you desire. You have difficulty with driving, watching TV, writing, recognizing faces or reading the paper. Through our various techniques, medications, aids and adjustments to daily life, you can return to many of your daily activities.

Living with Low Vision at Five Points Eye Care in Athens, Georgia

Living with Low Vision

There is always a level of shock when you learn that your vision cannot be corrected. Robbed of your ability to perform daily tasks, you feel hopeless, having trouble with balance and depressed. If that is is the case, we encourage you to seek treatment and counseling. There are ways to cope with these issues. Through the many options of vision aids and rehabilitation, you can return doing many daily functions you did before.

Low Vision Aids at Five Points Eye Care in Athens, Georgia

Low Vision Aids

Low vision does not mean you need to give up on daily activities. Through aids such as magnifiers and telescopes you can still maximize your remaining eyesight. There are also various devices that allow you to listen to audiobooks or have your smartphone speak to you. Techniques involve increasing light, reducing glare, and allowing more contrast.

Low Vision Treatment at Five Points Eye Care in Athens, Georgia

Retinitis Pigmentosa

Retinitis Pigmentosa, also known as RP, is an inherited, genetic, eye disease, that causes retinal degeneration. This disease affects one in every four thousand people. RP causes the retina, which is the light-sensing cells in the back of the eye, to deteriorate. The result of this degeneration is the loss of peripheral vision, loss of central vision, night blindness, and sometimes blindness.

Bioptic and Telescopic Lenses at at Five Points Eye Care in Athens, Georgia

Bioptics/Telescopic Lenses

Special binocular type instruments can be placed on the glasses to help make out small objects such as street signs, traffic lights, and facial expressions. By placing binoculars on the lenses, it allows these objects to appear closer and become more visible. There are a lot of options on the market, ranging from the E-Scoop glasses to bioptic telescopes. Contact us today to find the best lenses for your needs.

Low Vision Aids at Five Points Eye Care in Athens, Georgia

CentraSight/Implantable Miniature Telescope

CentraSight, a tiny device implanted onto one eye to help those with central vision loss from end-stage AMD. The telescope will project images around you onto the healthy, non-degenerated portion of your eye. The other eye will then help with peripheral vision. This telescopic device is only available to those who haven’t had cataract surgery and are of a certain age. Give us a call to discuss if you meet the other various requirements for the implementation of this exciting opportunity.

Low Vision and Driving at Five Points Eye Care in Athens, Georgia

Driving with Low Vision

The inability to drive can be a major issue of Low Vision. Not being able to make out street signs and traffic lights puts the driver at risk. Bioptics and telescopic glasses can be used to magnify these objects, returning your ability to drive so you can see the grandkids, run your errands, and feel independent again.

What Our Patients are Saying
Age related macular degeneration treatement at Five Points Eye Care in Athens, Georgia

Age Related Macular Degeneration

The leading cause of vision loss for Americans over the age of 50. You will experience difficulty seeing out of the center of your eye. Broken down into wet and dry AMD, items will be blurry or you will have difficulty seeing in a dim light. Treatments to slow down the progression and improve your lifestyle include specialty lenses, aids, injections, laser therapy, and an implantable miniature telescope from CentraSight.

Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment at Five Points Eye Care in Athens, Georgia

Diabetic Retinopathy

Those suffering from Diabetes can lead to blindness with extreme low vision issues. Many of the effects are not felt until it is too late. This means it is important to have regular eye exam to detect any issues. Symptoms may include eye floaters, blurred vision, dark spots, flashing lights, and halos by lights. Treatments, depending on stage of development, range from low vision aids, drugs, laser correction, and surgery.

Juvenile Macular Degeneration Treatment at Five Points Eye Care in Athens, Georgia

Juvenile Macular Degeneration

Though there is no cure, vision aids and other treatment can help the patient maintain an active lifestyle. Where as AMD is a condition that develops with age, JMD is a result of genetics that affects children and young adults. This too affects central vision and can be broken down into three categories: Stargardts, Best Disease, and Juvenile Retinoschisis. See our full page to find out more details

Glaucoma Treatment at Five Points Eye Care in Athens, Georgia

Glaucoma

The “sneak thief of sight”, this lifelong condition has no early symptoms of pain. That is why it is extremely important to have a regular eye exam to detect any warning signs. Various treatments such as drugs or surgery can be done to prevent further vision loss.

Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment at Five Points Eye Care in Athens, Georgia

Cataracts

This is the most common cause of vision loss in people over 40 and affecting over half of those over 80. Your vision will become cloudy, blurred or dim. Special lenses or aids can help with the loss and ultimately, surgery can be a strong option should vision loss worsen.

Stroke Victims and Low Vision Treatment at Five Points Eye Care in Athens, Georgia

Stroke Victims

The way that we properly see is that our eyes process what is in front of them. Through nerves, it sends that information to the back of the brain which processes it and sends it back to the eyes. This is what vision is. Thus, in order to see well, you need a brain that functions well.

Your Low Vision Doctors in Columbus, Ohio

Chris A. Smiley, OD

Dr. Christopher Smiley, the current owner of Vision Professionals, is a Central Ohio native who embodies innovation and progress within the Optometric community. His unwavering commitment to excellence shines through every aspect of his work. Graduating with top honors in contact lens patient care from The Ohio State University College...

Abigail G. Menner OD, FAAO

Dr. Abigail G. Menner is originally from Bellbrook, OH. She attended Bellbrook High School and graduated Summa Cum Laude. She then attended The Ohio State University for her undergraduate studies in Medical Sciences and Pre-Optometry. She was accepted to The Ohio State University College of Optometry after her third year...

Brian A. Dittenber, OD, Emeritus

After graduating from OSU College of Optometry in 1976, Dr. Dittenber spent three years as an Optometrist/Officer in the US Air Force, stationed at Charleston AFB, S.C. In 1979, Dr. Dittenber opened his first office in Sunbury in a second floor location beside Dr. Anthony's (Sunbury dentist) office on the square....

David A. Niederkohr OD, Emeritus

Graduating from The Ohio State University-College of Optometry in 1976, Dr. David Niederkohr has devoted the last 42.5 years to private optometric practice in Delaware, Ohio. In addition, his practice has included LifeStyle Optical located in Grady Memorial Hospital (now Ohio Health). He enjoys working with challenging contact lens fits....

Kimberly L. Rock MS, OD, FAAO

Dr. Kimberly Rock is originally from Warsaw, Ohio where she attended River View High School. She then attended Hiram College and graduate magna cum laude with a B.A. in Biomedical Humanities. Dr. Rock next attended The Ohio State University College of Optometry. She completed the combined OD/MS program and graduated...

Katherine Merry OD

Dr. Katherine Merry is a native of northwest Columbus, Ohio, and attended Bishop Watterson High School. She graduated magna cum laude from Walsh University with a B.S. in biology. Dr. Merry then attended the Ohio State University College of Optometry and graduated in 2021. During optometry school, Dr. Merry was...

Joseph Leisring OD

Dr. Joseph Leisring is originally from Dayton, Ohio. He completed his undergraduate studies at Wright State University and was an early admission to The Ohio State University Optometry program. He graduated from the OSU College of Optometry in 1981 and was a member of the Epsilon PSI Epsilon professional fraternity....

Lawrence A. Gill OD, Emeritus

Lawrence A. Gill OD, Emeritus   Dr. Gill has been in private practice with the Ohio Vision Group for forty years.  He has an extensive medical referral base due to his background as a medical staff member of the Columbus Community Hospital and as a clinic instructor for The Ohio State University College of...

Cassandra Sheriff OD

Dr. Cassandra Sheriff is originally from Defiance, Ohio where she attended Tinora High School graduating as valedictorian.  She then went on to attend The Ohio State University for both undergraduate and optometry school (Go Buckeyes!).  Dr. Sheriff graduated OSU's college of optometry in 2017 as part of the Beta Sigma...

Kyle Martin OD

Dr. Kyle Martin was born and raised in Mason, Ohio, before completing his B.S. in neuroscience at The Ohio State University.  While completing his undergraduate studies, Dr. Martin was a head squad leader and trumpet player for TBDBITL at OSU. During his time with the OSU marching band, he was...

Poonam Panda OD

Dr. Poonam Panda originally grew up in Plymouth, MI. She completed her undergraduate studies at Wayne State University in Detroit where she obtained a B.S in Biomedical Physics. She made the journey to Columbus, OH to complete her Doctor of Optometry at The Ohio State College of Optometry.  While attending...

Valerie Danford, OD, MBA

Dr. Valerie Danford grew up in Cleveland, Ohio where she graduated from Mayfield High School and then attended John Carroll University (JCU) and earned a B.S in biology with a minor in business. She was a 4-year varsity soccer player and active in many clubs and organizations on campus.  Dr. Danford continued her...

Experiencing any of these Low Vision symptoms?

Sensitivity to light | Loss of peripheral vision | Unusual spots or floaters | Blurred vision | Night blindness or a need for more light than before | Difficulty reading | Rehab after vision loss | Macular degeneration | Glaucoma

We can help!

  • According to genetic population statistics it is estimated that 4 out of 5 cases are forms of partial color blindness (also called anomalous trichromacy) which are addressable using the EnChroma optical lens technology.
  • Innovative low vision devices for computers can help visually-impaired people stay connected with friends and the online world.
  • Any signs of vision loss should prompt a doctors visit; if you have a problem that can't be corrected with eyewear or surgery, low vision aids can help.